Quantitative Lung Ultrasonography to Guide Surfactant Therapy in Neonates Born Late Preterm and Later

Abstract

In this diagnostic study of late preterm through full-term neonates with respiratory failure early after birth, LUS accuracy to predict surfactant need was not inferior to that observed in earlier preterm neonates. An LUS higher than 8 was associated with highest global accuracy (replacement test), suggesting that it can be used to guide surfactant administration. An LUS value of 4 or lower was associated with the highest sensitivity (triage test), suggesting it is unlikely for this population to need surfactant.